Arkansas’s Safest Cities of 2026

See crime rates for the safest cities.

Arkansas has seen a slight increase in violent crime over the past few years, causing more residents to worry that it'll happen to them. Our State of Safety survey reveals firearms are a popular form of protection in the state, and Arkansans are more worried about violent crime in general than about gun violence specifically. 

In the meantime, property crime has also increased slightly but Arkansans feel less worried about it than in previous years. 

The violent crime rate in Arkansas is 7.04 incidents per 1,000 people, which is higher than the national average of 4.43 and the sixth highest violent crime rate in the nation. We weren't able to report a statewide violent crime rate last year due to insufficient data, but in our 2024 report, Arkansas reported a slightly lower violent crime rate of 6.9.

Property crime in The Natural State has also increased in recent years, jumping from 25.5 incidents per 1,000 people in 2024 to 26.25 incidents in this year's report. That's higher than the national property crime rate of 22.89 but not one of the top 10 property crime rates nationwide. 

The number of Arkansans who feel safe in the state dropped slightly year over year from 49% to 37%. About 50% of our Arkansas survey respondents say they believe crime is increasing. 

Concern about property crime continues to drop year over year in Arkansas, and fewer Arkansans report experiencing a property crime first-hand. 

• 48% of Arkansas worry about property crime, down from 55% the year before (46% US).
• 33% of Arkansans fell prey to package theft in the 12 months prior to the survey, down from 36% the previous year.
• 20% experienced a property crime in the 12 months prior to the survey—down from 33% the year prior (21% US).
• 23% of Arkansans added security or safety measures to their property last year, which is the fourth lowest percentage in the nation (32% US).
• Of the Arkansans who use some form of property protection, their preferences are spread across firearms (52%), security cameras (51%), and guard dogs (49%).

According to our survey, Arkansas residents experienced a slight increase in violent crime year over year, and it remains a growing concern. 

• 15% of Arkansas residents told us they experienced a violent crime in the 12 months prior to the survey, up from 13% the previous year.
• 59% of Arkansans worry about violent crime, up from 55% the year before and higher than the national average of 55%.
• 48% of Arkansans reported using some form of personal protection, with firearms leading the way at 56%.
• Compared to the national average, Arkansans are more likely to protect themselves with firearms, stun guns, and personal safety apps, but less likely to use pepper spray.

• 50% of Arkansans are concerned about gun violence, which is a slight decrease from last year at 51%. The national average is 55%.
• 8% reported an experience with gun violence in the 12 months prior to being surveyed, down from 12% the previous year and lower than the national average of 9%.
• Arkansas experienced 2 mass shootings during the reporting period—down from 6 the previous year.
• Of the Arkansans who use some form of personal protection, 56% said they use concealed firearms (45% US).
• 52% of our Arkansas respondents said they use firearms to protect their property, the second-highest percentage in the nation after Wyoming (56%).

For the purposes of this report, the terms “dangerous” and “safest” refer explicitly to crime rates as calculated from FBI crime data—no other characterization of any community is implied or intended.

• 102 cities in Arkansas met the criteria for ranking.
• Although Pottsville, this year's #1 safest city, saw a slight increase in violent crime, its property crime rate fell by 50%. 
• Piggott rose 20 places to land at #6 after reducing its violent crime rate by 77% and its property crime rate by 53%.
• Five cities saw decreases in both property crime and violent crime: Centerton, Piggott, Prairie Grove, Tontitown, and Farmington.
• Prairie Grove and Tontitown's property crime and violent crime rates decreased for the second year in a row, helping both cities to jump five places in the rankings.
• Centerton is the largest city on this year's list with a population of more than 26,000. 
• Highfill and Piggott reported no motor vehicle thefts. Highfill also reported no burglaries.
• The majority of Arkansas's safest cities are clustered in the northwest corner of the state near Bentonville and Fayetteville. Piggott is the only town in eastern Arkansas on the top 10 list. 

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